Kabo Lawyers has recently joined the Asian Australian Lawyers’ Association as a corporate member.

The AALA would like to thank Kabo Lawyers for their support for the association and their commitment to promoting cultural diversity in the legal profession.

Kabo Lawyers is proud to support the AALA as a small yet diverse practise where the minority is the majority!

Bar News, the Journal of the New South Wales Bar Association, has recently published an article by Malcolm Oakes SC on William Jangsing Lee, the first barrister of Chinese descent admitted to the NSW Bar.

To read the article, please click here.

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association is pleased to announce that global law firm, Baker & McKenzie, has recently become its first corporate sponsor.

Ms Anne-Marie Allgrove, Chair of the Diversity & Flexibility Steering Group at Baker & McKenzie in Australia, said:

“Baker & McKenzie’s 11,000+ lawyers are citizens of 55 countries and speak more than 75 languages, from Farsi and French to Japanese and Javanese. With 77 offices in 47 countries around the world, diversity has been part of its foundation from the very beginning.”

“The firm is proud to support the Asian Australian Lawyers Association catering to the growing number of Asian Australian lawyers in the legal profession, as well as other lawyers with an interest in Asia. We strongly support the Asian Australian Lawyers Association’s goal in the promotion and facilitation of Asian cultural diversity in the senior ranks of the legal profession.” 

President Reynah Tang thanked Baker & McKenzie for its generous support for the association and said:

“The sponsorship reflects Baker & McKenzie’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and follows on from the firm’s support for the launch of our cultural diversity analysis earlier this year.”

“It is a very exciting time for the AALA, with the recent appointment of one of our members to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the impending launch of the 2015 mentoring scheme and a new directory of members, our expansion into New South Wales and our upcoming ‘leadership conversations’ in association with Diverse Australasian Women’s Network”

Dear Members,

You are invited to join distinguished members of government, industry, judiciary, business, media and global leaders of international dispute resolution operating across a number of different cultures and legal systems in celebrating the Centenary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).

The celebrations will be held during Sydney Arbitration Week and will include a Welcome Reception on Sydney Harbour; 3rd International Arbitration Conference (copresented with the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration) culminating in a Black Tie Gala Dinner with the Hon Robert French AC, Chief Justice of Australia who will deliver the After Dinner Address.

The event is not organised by the AALA, but AALA members are warmly invited to attend. AALA members may register for the event at the CIArb Australia member rate.

For more information about the event, please visit CIArb’s website at: https://www.ciarb.net.au/centenerary/centenary-celebrations/

Dear Members,

The Chinese Community Council of Australia will be holding its National Conference 2015 on Saturday, 12 September 2015.

The theme of the National Conference is "Piercing the Bamboo Ceiling". Leaders from various fields including public life, business, community, media, academics and the arts have been invited to speak at the event. The Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Daniel Andrews will be opening the conference and Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr. Tim Soutphommasane will be one of the guest speakers. AALA President Reynah Tang and committee member William Lye will also be speaking at the event.

This event is not organized by the AALA, however AALA members are warmly invited to attend. For more details about registration, please click here.

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association would like to congratulate one of our members Charles Tan on his appointment as Magistrate to the Magistrates' Court. Mr Tan is Malaysian born with Chinese heritage, and is the first person of Chinese origin to be appointed a magistrate in Victoria. His appointment represents a significant milestone in working towards a culturally diverse judiciary.

To read the official media release, please click here.

Dear Members,

If you have not yet done so, we would encourage you to apply for the AALA mentoring program as soon as possible.

The program is open to practicing lawyers at all levels. To apply or to find out more, please click here.

Applications close 24 July 2015 and the program is scheduled to launch for 12 August 2015.

Dear Members,

Please see below information in relation to Menzies Foundation scholarships in law, which may be of interest to some members.

Menzies Foundation scholarships in law

The Menzies Foundation is looking for outstanding law graduates who are shaping up to be the next generation of leaders and looking to do further postgraduate study overseas.

The Menzies Foundation is offering two scholarships for studying commencing in 2016.

• The Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Law is for courses of study at UK universities.
• The Sir Ninian Stephen Menzies Scholarship in International Law is for courses of study in international law at a prestigious overseas university.

Both scholarships, valued at up to $75,000.

Applications are now open and close on 31 August 2015

To be eligible, applicants must be Australian citizens and hold a 1st class honours degree or equivalent and be planning to continue their career in Australia on completion of their study.

Candidates should not only display academic excellence but also demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and a commitment to and interest in community service.

The funds are to meet compulsory university fees and contribute towards the cost of books, equipment, living and travel.

You can see last year’s winners, Patrick Wall and Andrew Currie, online at:http://menziesfoundation.org.au/scholars/scholars-current

For the full prospectus and to apply:

Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Law: http://menziesfoundation.org.au/scholarships/law

Sir Ninian Stephen Menzies Scholarship in International Law:http://menziesfoundation.org.au/scholarships/international-law

Last year, Diversity Council Australia published a report entitled “Cracking the Cultural Ceiling: Future Proofing Your Business in the Asian Century”, in which it examined the issue of a bamboo ceiling.

Dr Tom Verghese, founder of Cultural Synergies, has posted on his blog about some breakthroughs that he believes are necessary to overcome the bamboo ceiling. To read more, please click here.

The Bar Council of India and the Society of Indian Law Firms have recently been in talks with their government about opening up the legal sector to foreign law firms. If the legal sector is opened up to foreign law firms, this may lead to more opportunities for collaboration between the Australian and Indian legal professions.

Related articles can be found on the Times of India website and Australasian Lawyer.